But the AP defends its decision, saying that “journalists document world events every day. Afghanistan is no exception. We feel it is our journalistic duty to show the reality of the war there, however unpleasant and brutal that sometimes is.”

What do you think?

Was the AP wrong to publish the photo of a dying soldier? Was the news agency being insensitive to the soldier’s family?

Or does Secretary Gates have it wrong? Do the American people need to see the harsh realities of war? Are American papers too sanitized?